Coal
When the sun was scorching all
earth dwellings the voice of the coal
seller was heard, a sweaty man
promoting his black merchandise,
his treasure trove for people’s heaters,
coal made of olive tree wood, good
heating coal some bought while the sun
up on the horizon smiled ironically for
coal seller who at the end of summer
had brought the cold in people’s minds
and the wine flask and the chestnuts
on top of the burning stove, thoughtful
villagers taking care of their winter needs
justified the coal seller, who
in the summertime, sweaty and tired as he
was selling his black merchandise
to the wise villagers concerned with
the cold days and nights of winter
and you said,
he too had tied an anchor around
his ankle like a donkey fastened
onto his predestined space-time.
Manolis Aligizakis 